From the Principal
Congratulations to our Cocurricular
- The Year of Mercy
- Next Sunday: First Sunday of Advent
- Our Christmas Wishing Tree and Hamper Appeal
- Founder's Day this Friday
- Congratulations to our Cocurricular Achievers
- Save the Dates: You are invited to these College events
FEAST OF CHRIST OF THE KING:
POPE FRANCIS BRINGS THE YEAR OF MERCY TO ITS END
The Feast of Christ the King ends the Church year and with it too the Year of Mercy proclaimed by Pope Francis has come to an end with the symbolic closing of the Doors of Mercy at St Peter’s Basilica. Pope Francis, in his homily last Sunday told the Church:
The Holy Year of Mercy was a chance for Catholics to “rediscover the core, to return to what is essential” and to “rediscover the youthful, beautiful face of the Church, the face that is radiant when it is welcoming, free, faithful, poor in means but rich in love, on mission.”
We are called to be missionaries of God’s love to one another.
Prayer of Pope Francis for the Jubilee Year of Mercy
Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father,
and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.
Show us your face and we will be saved.
Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money;
the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things;
made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.
Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the
Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!”
You are the visible face of the invisible Father,
of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy:
let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.
You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness
in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error:
let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.
Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing,
so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord,
and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor,
proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.
We ask this of you, Lord Jesus,
through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy;
you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.
Amen
NEXT SUNDAY – FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent and begins our four-Sunday journey to Christmas. Despite what our department stores do, it is customary that at the commencement of Advent we put up our Christmas tree and symbols leading to Christmas. I will write more each week about Advent commencing next Woodchatta.
OUR CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE
From next Monday we commence our annual drive for Christmas gifts for the children of Walgett. We also invite donations for the hampers we assemble for those in need in the Diocese of Broken Bay. Please give generously. More details are in the Mission & Social Justice section of this Woodchatta.
FOUNDER’S DAY – THIS FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER
As we are all aware this Friday is an important community day and one of great fun and activity for Social Justice. It is a compulsory school day and any absence will be specifically noted on the End of Semester Academic report. Any student absence must be accompanied by a DOCTOR’S CERTIFICATE. The program and details for the day are contained later in this edition.
Many thanks to the P & F for their assistance on the day. Parents are also welcome to join in and give a hand. I wish to thank the many who have donated to the event:
Cypriana Liem, John Leo, Cathryn Berecry, Anita Rodrigues, Rory Lonergan, Chinese Restaurant in Chatswood, Lucy Marx, Rob & Kate Gruber, Jonathan & Odette Shahady, Linda Kugel, Di Munich (personally and on behalf of OfficeMax), Mark Houlihan, Katie McElvogue, Donna Shallard, Joanne Chicco, Marie Urriste, Anita & John Gazal.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COCURRICULAR ACHIEVERS
Our feature photo at the top of the page shares with you a small piece which appeared in a recent edition of The Catholic Weekly congratulating just some of our many successful cocurricular students and their activities.
VOLUNTEERS’ THANK YOU
This year we will be holding a Volunteers’ Appreciation Christmas Function. This will take place on Monday 5th December in the Sarto Centre commencing at 5.30 pm. This event is to show the College’s appreciation to all volunteers who have assisted throughout the year either with cocurricular activities, in the classroom, in the canteen or uniform shop, or in any particular way in the College.
Please click on the Invitation below for details and RSVP information.
SAVE THE DATES – YOU ARE INVITED TO THESE COLLEGE EVENTS
- Christmas Twilight Concert: Friday 2nd December
- Year 6 Awards Presentation: Thursday 8th December
- Years 5-10 Closing Mass: Friday 9th December
Mr John Couani - Principal